Accessory for use with developing machines



Jan. 28, 1964 3,119,319

ACCESSORY FOR USE WITH DEVELOPING MACHINES A. L. C. DEBRIE Filed July 28, 1961 FIG.

FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

1- Alan United States Patent ACCESSORY FOR USE WITH DEVELOPING MACHINES Antlr Victor Leon Clement Debrie, 111 Rue Saint-Maur, Paris, France Filed July 23, 1961, Ser. No. 127,723 Claims priority, application France July 30, 1960 2 Claims. (Cl. 95-89) The present invention has for its object an accessory for machines used to develop so-called reversal films.

Such machines transform the positively printed film directly, in contradistinction to the usual developing process whereby a negative is obtained. Such a result is obtained in the course of development, by re-exposing to the light the film emerging from a suitable intermediate bath.

In machines of this type used heretofore, the exposure chamber is external to the set of developing tanks and is apt to occupy a large amount of space.

A re-exposure chamber according to the invention is characterized in that it is incorporated in the body of the developing machine, for example in one of its washing tanks, in consequence whereof there results no increase in the overall dimensions of the machine.

In addition, an important improvement is effected in the re-exposure operation: the light is allowed to act with maximum efiicacy by reason of the fact that both faces of the film are caused to bathe uniformly in the light.

To this end, the washing tank which is of rectangular section, comprises, preferably in one of its sides corresponding to one of the shorter sides of the rectangle, apertures behind which are mounted lighting bulbs, the remaining sides having reflecting surfaces.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is disposed in said rectangular tank a metal reflector of channel section (made of polished stainless steel, for instance), the open side of which is directed towards the illuminating side of the tank. A reflector of this type can easily be removed for cleaning or other purposes, and then replaced.

The description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawing, given by way of example only and not of limitation, will give a clear understanding of how the invention may be performed, any particularities thereof emerging from the description or the drawing naturally falling within the scope of the invention.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a highly diagrammatic vertical section view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the line IIII in FIG. 1.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawing comprises a washing tank 1 made for instance of hardened rubber, having a rectangular cross-section and an open top 2 where film supporting and guiding rollers 3 are arranged (nonillustrated homologous rollers being provided at the bottom of the tank).

Along one of the smaller sides of this tank is arranged a vertical row of apertures 4 hermetically sealed by glass panes 5. Opposite said apertures and outside the tank are mounted incandescent or luminescent bulbs 6 which 0 "ice are accommodated in a casing 7 provided with ventilation orifices.

Inside the tank 1 is disposed a reflector 8 made, say, of polished stainless steel sheet-metal bent to channel section so that it hugs the three other sides of the rectangular tank, the open side of the channel being directed towards said apertures. Such a reflector may easily be introduced into the tank by sliding it in from the top, and, conversely, may be removed without difficulty in the same way for cleaning or re-polishing for example.

It is to be clearly understood that, without departing from the scope of the invention, many modifications may be made to the specific embodiment described hereinabove, notably by resorting to equivalent technical means.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for developing reversal films, in combination, an elongated tank of rectangular cross section having a front and a rear wall and a pair of side walls integral with and extending between said front and rear walls; a plurality of openings formed in one of said side walls aligned in longitudinal direction of said tank; a plurality of transparent plates respectively covering said openings; illuminating means outside said tank substantially aligned with said openings; film guide means operatively connected to said tank for guiding a film strip in longitudinal direction of said tank with the plane of the film strip substantially normal to said one side Wall; and an elongated sheet metal reflecting member of U-shaped cross section having inner polished surfaces and being removably inserted in said tank with the outer surface thereof engaging the inner surfaces of said front wall, said rear wall and the other of said side Walls for reflecting light passing through said openings into said tank with substantially equal intensity onto opposite sides of a film passing through said tank.

2. In an apparatus for developing reversal films, in combination, an elongated washing tank adapted to contain a washing liquid and having a plurality of side walls extending in longitudinal direction of said tank; guide means for guiding a film strip in longitudinal direction through said tank with the plane of said film strip substantially normal to one of said side walls; at least one window formed in said one side wall; illuminating means outside said tank behind said Window; and reflecting means formed by a metallic reflector removably placed inside said tank in engagement with said side walls and covering all except said one side wall for reflecting the light passing from said illuminating means through said window with substantially equal intensity onto opposite sides of the film passing through said tank, whereby a film guided through said tank is washed while being simultaneously lighted on both sides with substantially equal intensity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,532 Sterling June 19, 1917 1,690,616 Capstafl": Nov. 6, 1928 1,762,936 Seymour June 10, 1930 2,061,552 Debrie Nov. 24, 1936 2,772,651 Amico Dec. 4, 1956 

2. IN AN APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING REVERSAL FILMS, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED WASHING TANK ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A WASHING LIQUID AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF SIDE WALLS EXTENDING IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID TANK; GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING A FILM STRIP IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION THROUGH SAID TANK WITH THE PLANE OF SAID FILM STRIP SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS; AT LEAST ONE WINDOW FORMED IN SAID ONE SIDE WALL; ILLUMINATING MEANS OUTSIDE SAID TANK BEHIND SAID WINDOW; AND REFLECTING MEANS FORMED BY A METALLIC REFLECTOR REMOVABLY PLACED INSIDE SAID TANK IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SIDE WALLS AND COVERING ALL EXCEPT SAID ONE SIDE WALL FOR REFLECTING THE LIGHT PASSING FROM SAID ILLUMINATING MEANS THROUGH SAID WINDOW WITH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL INTENSITY ONTO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FILM PASSING THROUGH SAID TANK, WHEREBY A FILM GUIDED THROUGH SAID TANK IS WASHED WHILE BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY LIGHTED ON BOTH SIDES WITH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL INTENSITY. 